Distinguished Alumni 2009
Gala | Distinguished Alumni Honorees | Criteria | Nomination Form
Somsonge Burusphat, Ph.D. ‘86
PhD–Humanities (Linguistics)Professor of Linguistics
Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand
Somsonge Burusphat is professor of linguistics for the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia at Mahidol University in Salaya, Thailand. In 1986, she received her Ph.D. in humanities with a concentration on linguistics in the College of Liberal Arts. She is one of the founders and pioneers of RILCA, an academic institution in Thailand. The RILCA acts as an advocate for minority ethnics, raising public consciousness about the importance of empowering and giving dignity to their cultures. Dr. Burusphat has done extensive fieldwork on the languages and cultures of various ethnic groups in Thailand, and produced three books about teaching Thai language. She lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Wayne K. Carson, MSSW, Ph.D. ‘87, ‘93
MSSW–Social WorkPhD–Social Work
Chief Executive Officer
All Church Home for Children
Wayne Carson is chief executive officer of the All Church Home for Children in Fort Worth. He oversees the operations and management of all programs for the non-profit agency, which serves children and families in crisis. Since Dr. Carson took over as CEO in 2000, he and his staff have expanded the programs significantly. They increased the number of children served annually from 200 to 3,500, established a presence in seven additional counties and increased the budget from $3 million to $9 million per year. Carson received his master’s degree with an emphasis on anger control treatment from the School of Social Work in 1987 and completed his Ph.D. with an emphasis on organizational change management in 2002. He and his wife, Vickie, live in Arlington and have three children.
Rudy M. Garcia, PE, ‘77
BS–Civil EngineeringVice President
URS Corporation
Rudy Garcia is vice president for the URS Corporation, where his task is to increase the company’s business in the Texan aviation market. He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on hydraulics and hydrology from the College of Engineering, and in 1985 won the Young Engineer of the Year award from the Fort Worth chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Throughout his career, Garcia has been responsible for numerous public works projects, including those for aviation and roadway construction. Additionally, he manages design review services for the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. He was president of LopezGarcia Group, which is now a part of URS Corporation. An accomplished bowler, he has won four championships on the senior professional tour. He and his wife, Cecilia, live in Fort Worth. They have three children and five grandchildren.
Allan N. Garonzik ‘67
BBA–FinanceRetired Entrepreneur
Argyle, Texas
Allan Garonzik is a certified licensed firearms instructor for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of Business. Garonzik cofounded the Sam Houston Rifles Alumni Organization at UT Arlington and served as president multiple times over a 30-year period. He was inducted into the UT Arlington Military Hall of Honor in 2007. While serving as a captain in the military police of the Texas Guard, Garonzik was recruited by LTV, where he purchased classified military parts for Navy fighters and bombers. In 1970, he opened Ready Print, a small printing and graphic arts company; during the next 10 years, he opened six additional print shops. He and his wife, Sandra, live in Argyle and have two children and four grandchildren.
Thomas E. Harvey, Jr. AIA, MPH, FACHA ‘73
BS–ArchitectureSenior Vice President/Principal – Director/Clinical Solutions & Research
HKS Inc.
Thomas Harvey is senior vice president and principal of HKS Inc., an international architecture firm in Dallas, and director of HKS Clinical Resources and Research. He received his bachelor’s degree from the School of Architecture in 1973. Harvey master planned the replacement of Parkland Hospital and designed the U.S.N.S. Mercy and Comfort Hospital Ships. Nationally, he has planned 10 replacement hospitals, so his impact on the quality of the national healthcare environment is widespread. He writes and speaks about healthcare design in national forums, and his commitment to education and research led to his founding of the Center for Advanced Design and Research Evaluation. He also volunteered his time and to create the UT Arlington Smart Hospital, a simulation teaching lab for the School of Nursing. He and his wife, Marline, live in Dallas and have two children.
Rodney W. Hicks, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC, FAANP. ‘91, ‘02
MSN–NursingMPA–Public Administration
Professor and UMC Health System Endowed Chair for Patient Safety
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Rod Hicks is the first nurse practitioner in the nation to hold an endowed chair for patient safety in an academic setting. He is a professor at and co-director of the Center of Excellence in Patient Safety at the Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He received a master’s degree in nursing from the School of Nursing in 1991 and a master’s in public administration from the School of Urban and Public Affairs in 2002. Dr. Hicks’ work has influenced national standards of patient care for several professional organizations. He also owns a software company, eLOGS, which nurse practitioners use throughout their education. He and his partner, Michael E. Kline, live in Lubbock.
James E. Nelson ‘72
BBA–Business ManagementExecutive Director/CEO
Avid Center
Jim Nelson is executive director of the AVID Center in San Diego. In 1996, he was appointed to the newly created State Board for Educator Certification by then Governor George W. Bush and served as chairman until 1999. when he was appointed Texas Commissioner of Education by the governor. At the request of the White House and the Department of Defense, he traveled to Baghdad, Iraq, as a senior advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Education to assist with the rebuilding of the Iraqi school system in 2003. In 2004, he was named Superintendent of Richardson Independent School District. Nelson also worked as an attorney for 24 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of Business. He and his wife, Karen, live in Austin and have three children and two grandchildren.
Vicky C. Teherani, MBA, ‘79, ‘81
BBA–AccountingMBA–Business
Chief Financial Officer
Rolland Safe & Lock Co., LLC
Vicky Teherani is chief financial officer for the Rolland Safe Company, which partners with its customers in asset protection. From 1998 to 2007, she was the vice president of PAJ Inc., an international jewelry wholesaler with annual sales of more than $100 million. She is active in the Asian community, providing a voice and presence on mainstream boards and community associations. Teherani has received various awards, including the ”She knows where she is going” award from Girl’s Inc. in Dallas. She is a dual degree holder with a BBA in accounting and an MBA from the College of Business, and now serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Business. She and her husband, Siroos, live in Dallas and have two children.
Linda S. Watson, ‘81, ‘82
BA–Political ScienceMA–Urban Affairs
Chief Executive Officer
LYNX – Central Florida Transportation Authority
Linda Watson is chief executive officer of LYNX, the Central Florida Transportation Authority. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and her master’s degree in urban and regional affairs from the School of Urban and Public Affairs. Watson’s has had an extensive career in the transportation industry. From 1982 to 1996, she moved through the ranks of the Fort Worth transportation Authority from administrative assistant to assistant general manager. From 1996 to 2004, she served as the general manager for the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority. She is a lifetime national associate of the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science. Her daughter, Stephanie Steele, is also a UT Arlington alum, having earned a
bachelor’s degree in business administration.
John P. Lanigan, Jr. – DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HONORARY AWARD
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing OfficerBNSF Railway Company
John Lanigan is vice president and chief marketing officer for BNSF Railway Company, where he is responsible for sales, marketing, customer service, economic development and business unit activities. Prior to joining BNSF in 2003, he served as president and CEO of logistics.com and spent more than 16 years with Schneider National Inc. Before he began his transportation career, Lanigan was in the U.S. Coast Guard, eventually retiring with more than 20 years of active duty and reserve service. He commanded six units during his career, including a port security unit that deployed to Operation Desert Storm. He has served as president of the College of Business Advisory Council. He and his wife, Karen, live in Colleyville and have two children.
Jim Wilkinson ‘93 – MASTER OF CEREMONIES
BBA–FinanceManaging Partner, International Business and Finance
Brunswick Group LLC
Jim Wilkinson received a BBA in Finance from UT Arlington in 1993. Today, he is a partner with the Brunswick Group LLC in their San Francisco Office. He has extensive experience in international communications, financial management, strategy and crisis management. Prior to Brunswick Jim served as Chief of Staff for Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, serving as Paulson’s senior strategist and counselor, and working on matters of financial policy and crisis management. Before Treasury, Wilkinson served as Senior Advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and as Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications with Rice in The White House. Wilkinson previously served as Director of Strategic Communications for General Tommy R. Franks at U.S. Central Command, and in The White House as Deputy Director of Communications. Wilkinson also worked for several years in the U.S. Congress, and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
